Agilent extends triple play analyzer capabilities

NICE, FRANCE: Agilent Technologies Inc. announced the extension of its Triple Play Analyzer (TPA) capabilities to various mobile networks, including UMTS, WiMAX and LTE.

Agilent’s TPA is the only solution that combines voice, video and data services-monitoring over mobile networks in a single instrument, which eliminates the extra expense of buying a product for each service. The solution’s quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE) tracking and in-depth protocol analysis reduce operating costs by allowing network equipment manufacturers and service providers to quickly identify the root causes of network problems.

Agilent is also introducing its Multiplay Performance Manager (MPM), which enhances the power of TPA by enabling distributed monitoring of IP Video streams across an entire network.

With MPM, multiple TPA probes -— including TPA software installed on PC-based mobile stations —- can feed data from different network locations to Agilent’s QoS Manager for an aggregated, real-time view based on key performance indicators (KPIs) and for correlated, end-to-end analysis. This accelerates the process of locating and resolving issues, which cuts costs and helps keep subscribers satisfied.

"TPA is much more advanced than your ordinary service monitoring and troubleshooting tool," said Todd Biddle, general manager Agilent’s Network Solutions Division/Assurance. "It goes far beyond top-level quality of experience monitoring. TPA also enables in-depth diagnosis and troubleshooting for both the control plane and the user plane. The solution provides visibility into all levels of protocols, so when a subscriber reports service degradation, TPA can drill down quickly to identify the root cause. Users can look at the transport layer, which carries the services; they can see the signaling that sets up a multimedia session; and they can test the quality of services at the application layer. This industry-unique depth of capability makes TPA an extremely powerful solution."

The Agilent TPA not only enables 3-in-1 service quality monitoring for mobile and fixed networks, the solution also runs on Agilent’s proven Distributed Network Analyzer (DNA) hardware and Multi-User platform, which supports other powerful Agilent applications. TPA can operate simultaneously with the Network Analyzer software for IP Transport troubleshooting, and the Signaling Analyzer software, which monitors all the 2G/3G/4G mobile signaling. No other vendor supports test applications in all of these areas on a single hardware platform.

Agilent’s Triple Play Analyzer, especially when combined with the Multiplay Performance Manager, provides the most complete monitoring and troubleshooting tool for companies who develop and install multiplay applications over wireless and wireline networks.